May Day celebration delayed by rains in Cape Coast

Cape Coast, May 1, GNA - The Central Regional May Day celebration held in Cape Coast was nearly marred by a heavy downpour as it led to a two-hour delay for the scheduled event.

However, thousands of workers in the Region defied the heavy rain and went on a procession through the streets of Cape Coast.

The event, chaired by Mr John Michael Aggrey, Central Regional Chairman of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), was originally scheduled to start at 0800 hours, but started two hours late.

It was attended by a cross-section of the public and government officials and members of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

The theme for the celebration was: 'Ghana at 60: Mobilising for Ghana's future through the creation of decent jobs'.

Mr Kwamena Duncan, the Regional Minister, applauded the TUC for the massive participation and pledged Government's readiness to work with organised labour to address the numerous labour related issues.

He urged the workers to upgrade their capacity in Information Communication Technology (ICT) to keep up with the changing world of ICT and also to ensure the survival of their work.

Mr Duncan said there is the need for workers to be concerned about health and safety at their respective work places and work harder than before to increase production.

He called on workers to embrace the prevailing job creation policies and support Government as it seeks to deliver its mandate of improving the living conditions of all Ghanaians.

Mr Duncan also called on the workers to support the fight against galamsey to save the country's water bodies and other natural resources.

Mr Samuel Kweku Doughan, Regional Secretary of TUC, expressed the willingness of organised labour to support all Government initiatives designed to create jobs.

He said organised labour would also support Government to undertake an audit of all government funded projects and programmes.

Mr Doughan said Ghana, after 60 years of independence has failed in its economic management as unemployment continues to be a great challenge facing the country in spite of its enormous wealth.

He called on the Government to engage organised labour on all issues affecting the working population adding that,' we believe we can achieve a lot together through social dialogue'.

Twenty-six hard working and outstanding workers in the Region were honoured for their various roles.

GNA

By Afedzi Abdullah, GNA